The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-22
The Duty Of Christians
The Law OF Sinai VS.. Modern Hal
lucination

1t may not be considered the pro-
vince of a newspaper to enter the
field of religious discussion, and we
shall not do so, beyond dealing with
questions of public importance. In
this day Of ours, one cannot conceive |
of the vast good wrought by the null
tipicity Of noble Influences at work,
almost every where. The Church at
home is at work; the Church society
abroad. is at work; the religious press
is at work; the Sunday School is at
work; the moral upright example of
man is at work. All these go to make
up a mighty. irresistible force for
good, and through their Influence
mankind is lifted up, the world made
better, and God glorified in the lives
of his children. But all human asso-
Citations and influences have weakness
es to combat, and discoursgements to
overcome In every family there are
persons of different dispositions if not
different aspirations Even the sacred
teachings Of the Scriptures are inter
preted in different ways by different
people. and the result is, instead of
the harmonizing Of religious thought,
and the harmony Of religious infuen-
ces, there arise controversies and con-
ficts of thought in the field Of relig-
ious experience. Under the existing
conditions, one is forced to exercise
those powers of discernment and in
terpretation bestowed by an all-wise
Creator. Does man differ with you?
Then consider we'll his manner of life,
and see if, by comparison, it is better
than your own, or if he possesses a
greater wealth Of divine grace than
yourself If his example be worthy
of emulation, you may profit by it
but if it be not worthy, then let the
disagreement be a courteous, Christian
difference. We like the good, old
fashioned religion. the kind that used
to sit in the log churches, clasping
hands with neighbors and making
glad the passing hour by suggesting
thoughts Of God and his righteous
ness; the kind that threw its head
back, opened its mouth, and fairly
roared out the nasal measures of
''Come let
| Our journey pursue"
or the whole-souled impulse that
slowly ''lined'' then loudly beloved
"AI hail the power of Jesus name.'
That good old style of religion has
come on down to the present day,
somewhat refined and frightened by
modern influences and Surroundings,
perhaps, but grand and good. We
have put away the puncheon benches
and the log-heap has given place to
the heating-range; but the same Lord
is present, and the same worshipful
spirit.
There are some diversions, however.
in this day that need looking after,
by the earnest, jealous Christian.
There has been reaching out and
grasping after the sensational, that
retards, rather than advances the
good cause. A very good brother III
the Church said to us, few days ago:
Il disagree with you, because you
object to the teaching Of holiness. u
We do not object to teaching it.
Every Christian should live as nearly
a holy life as in him lies. But there
is new kind Of holiness taught-the
idea that man may hide himself
from his fellows and go through a
season Of prayer, receiving from the
throne Of grace higher light, a
greater spiritual power than is attain
able by other earnest Christians.
Well, we do not object to teaching
this. We do not object to teaching
that the Ohio River starts from the
Gulf of Mexico, runs northward, and
empties into the Allegheny Noun
tains. Such teaching would not even
reach the dignity Of a quiet, harm
less lunacy.
There is a teaching however that
has been objected to, yet has been
followed by many of the younger
ministers-the attempt to introduce
the sensational into the pulpit, the
attempt to magnify and make i'm
pressive great religious truth by a
crude joke picked up On a street
corner The minister, like the editor
or the public speaker Of whatsoever
kind, may use expressions that carry
the point, for the time being, but
people do not stop thinking as soon
as the sound Of the speakers voice
dies away, and unless the message
brought is feighted with wholesome
truth. and ballasted by good, sound
sense, the whole effort has been
thrown away. We have seen many
sensational man, but, in more than
two-score years of wandering up and
down this vale Of tears, s0e neuer saao
holy man. This is said without
the fear of successful contradiction.
We have seen many good men,
righteous men; but none we regarded
as holy. The exceptional teachers
who teach sensationalism throw
aside the old fogy doctrines of Sinai,
and teach kind Of go-as-you-please
religion that amuses the world but
does not point fainting, falling, dying
humanity to the light which has been